A woman who made history in Slough was a welcome guest on Saturday, when the achievements of black people over the centuries were honoured at a special event.

Lydia Simmons, OBE, 70, was Britain first black woman mayor when she became Slough's first lady in 1984. Earlier this year a development of 11 new council houses in Elliman Avenue was named after her.

She was among the many guests when Black History Month was celebrated at the Radian Housing Association's Longwood Park office in Common Road, Langley.

She was joined by Slough councillor Madhuri Bedi - a key partner at Saturday's event along with Radian's community development officer Shabana Farooq.

It was a day of festivities with the walls festooned with pictures of famous black people who had made their mark on history.

Cllr Bedi told guests: "We have all heard of people like Martin Luther King. But Slough has been home to so many people we should also be celebrating, including Lydia Simmons the country's first black woman mayor."

Mrs Simmons was born in Montserrat in the Caribbean in 1938 and came to Slough in 1960 when she was 17. She served as a councillor from 1979 to 1994 and from 1999 to 2007.

She told guests her parents' generation had been among the first new communities to come to Britain and had been welcomed in Slough. She said she was proud to think that schoolchildren had looked to her as an example of something that could be achieved.

Saturday's celebration saw food from around the world, drumming, music and dance.

Pastor Nick Dube from the Word of Life church which meets every Sunday at Langley Academy told guests: "Slough is known for its inclusiveness and diversity.

"We aren't in this community by accident. Everyone has something unique to bring."

Church member Ruvimbo Katsholo got things off to a great start with some amazing drumming.

She had been taught the skill by her grandmother in Zimbabwe and said: "When you play the drum something connects in your inner core."

Then the church's young peoples' group Impact entertained with their vibrant dance routines.